The Reverend Tom M. Murphy Called to be Our 22nd Rector

A Message from our new Rector

On behalf of the Vestry, it is our honor to announce that the Vestry of St. Thomas’ unanimously approved the choice of the Search Team and have called the Rev. Tom M. Murphy to be the 22nd Rector of St. Thomas’.

Tom comes to us from St. Paul’s in Jersey City, NJ where he has been Rector since 2013. He has been active in several organizations and is a strong advocate for Jersey City Together, a community organizing effort focused on affordable housing, safe streets, and effective schools. Tom graduated summa cum laude from New Jersey City University with a BA in History and Saint Peter’s College, with a Master of Arts in Education. He graduated with honors from The General Theological Seminary in New York City in 2007. Tom is married to Susan Suarez, an English teacher at University Academy Charter High School in Jersey City, and doctoral candidate in Educational Technology Leadership.  We look forward to welcoming Tom and Sue this July.

Our Search Team explained the reasons for their choice: “Through a rigorous process that involved discernment with qualified candidates from across the country, the team, with the help of the Holy Spirit, was led to Tom Murphy. Reverend Tom personifies the warmth and welcoming of the Christian faith and is eager to share its message of hope and redemption with anyone and everyone. He lives out his baptismal covenant and invites both parishioners and visitors to do the same through personal connections. As a leader, he has actively engaged as the church’s face in the local community to address the needs of all God’s people, but particularly the underserved, the unjustly served and the marginalized. His personality is engaging, inspiring and compassionate. We all agreed that Tom and his wife, Sue, were the right fit for our Parish.” The Vestry echoed these comments saying they found Tom warm and expressive and “felt connected to him immediately.”

Glen Cole and Beaumont Martin agreed to Co-Chair the transition for Tom and Sue and will provide updates about plans to welcome them to St. Thomas’. If you have questions about our plans for meeting Tom and Sue, please reach out to Glen or Beaumont through Barb Parks.

St. Thomas’ will be blessed and fortunate to have Tom provide the spiritual leadership our Parish needs as we face the opportunities and challenges ahead.

Ephesians 4:11-12 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.